DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the appointment of Mark Weatherford as the new Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity for the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD). The newly created position will allow the Department to better carry out our mission to create a safe, secure and resilient cyberspace. Weatherford has a wealth of experience in information technology and cybersecurity at the federal, state and private sector levels. In his new role, he will focus on ensuring robust cybersecurity operations and communications resilience for the Department.

Weatherford most recently served as the Vice President and Chief Security Officer of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), where he directed the organization’s critical infrastructure and cybersecurity program. He previously served as the Chief Information Security Officer in the State of California’s Office of Information Security, and as Chief Security Officer for the State of Colorado, where he helped establish the state’s first cybersecurity program. Weatherford is a former Naval Cryptologic Officer, where he led the Navy’s Computer Network Defense operations and the Naval Computer Incident Response Team.

Last month, the position of Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity was created, in recognition of the growing importance of cybersecurity to DHS and the Nation as a whole. Suzanne Spaulding also recently joined us as Deputy Under Secretary for NPPD. Her efforts will focus on reducing risk and enhancing the resiliency of critical infrastructure, securing federal facilities, and advancing identity management and verification.

Weatherford will start in mid-November. Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity Greg Schaffer, who has served in that role for the last five months and used his many talents and skills to help build our cybersecurity capabilities and strengthen our partnerships with the private sector, will return to his position as Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C). Bobbie Stempfley, who has stepped up to lead CS&C in Greg's absence, will return to her role as Deputy Assistant Secretary for CS&C.

Published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.